Dumbbell assembly

ABSTRACT

A dumbbell assembly includes a dumbbell unit having a handgrip portion, and a support base for seating the dumbbell unit thereon. The dumbbell unit has a handgrip portion and a carrying structure disposed movably above the support base. A user can raise the carrying structure to attach the handgrip portion and hold the handgrip portion and the carrying structure for carrying the whole dumbbell assembly by one hand.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a dumbbell assembly, and in particularto a dumbbell assembly having a carrying structure for carrying thedumbbell and dumbbell base simultaneously.

2. Description of Related Art

Nowadays, people usually have to work hard so that they have no time togo outdoor, a fitness center or a gym to do physical exercise.Therefore, people usually rely on fitness equipment, such as dumbbell,for doing physical exercise at home or in office. A traditional dumbbellis integrally constructed by lead or other metal. However the weight ofthe dumbbell is fixed, the dumbbell can not suit for different healthyconditions. Therefore, People need to buy different types of dumbbellshaving different weight, thereby occupying a relatively large livingspace in the house.

For improving the traditional dumbbell, an adjustable dumbbell assemblyhas been proposed in the prior art. The dumbbell assembly includes ahandle rod and a plurality of identical weights assembled selectively ontwo distal ends of the handle rod. Therefore, a user can choose how manypieces of weights are to be assembled to the handle rod according to theuser's requirement.

Generally speaking, the dumbbell assembly y is disposed on t on asupport base when not in use. When a user picks up the dumbbellassembly, those pieces of weights not assembled on the handle rod willbe left on the support base so as to prevent the weights scattering overthe ground. Besides, a user usually uses the dumbbell assembly where helikes, such as in bedroom or living room. When the user shifts thedumbbell assembly, he needs to carry the dumbbell assembly in one handand the support base in the other hand. That is inconvenient to theuser.

More important, in case of carrying the dumbbell assembly and thesupport base in both hands, those pieces of weights left over and notfastened to the support base will slip off the support base and maycause injury on the user's foot accidentally.

Moreover, because each piece of the weights is identical to one another,adjustment to the weight rang is limited. The user needs to buy aheavier dumbbell assembly when the strength of the user gets stronger.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provides a dumbbell assemblyto overcome the disadvantages encountered during use of the prior artdumbbell assembly. When a user moves the dumbbell assembly, the dumbbellunit and the support base can be combined via a carrying structure so asto prevent the weights from slipping off the support base and thus avoidfalling down on the ground. Moreover, different types of weights can beassembled in the present invention for providing different adjustmentsto the weight.

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a dumbbellassembly. The dumbbell assembly includes a dumbbell unit, a support baseand a carrying structure.

The dumbbell unit includes a connecting rod, a weight choosingstructure, and a plurality of weight discs. The connecting rod includesa handgrip portion and two mounting portions at both ends of thehandgrip portion. The weight choosing structure is assembled to themounting portion. The weight discs of different weights are selectivelyassembled to the weight choosing structure.

The support base has a loading side to permit seating of the weightdiscs thereon. The carrying structure includes retaining element, acarrying element, and a connecting element. The retaining element isused for preventing the carrying structure detaching from the base. Thecarrying element is movable with respect to the support base and islocated above the loading side. The connecting element interconnects theretaining element and the carrying element. The carrying element can beraised to fasten the handgrip portion of the connecting rod.

Therefore, when a user wants to move the dumbbell assembly, he can raisethe carrying element away from the support base, and then holds thecarrying element and the handgrip portion by one hand to carry thedumbbell unit as well as the support base simultaneously. The weightdiscs are fixed on the base and will not fall down on the ground.Additionally, the weight choosing structure can choose a heavy weightdisc for increasing the weight rang.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention can be fully understood from the followingdetailed description and preferred embodiment with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the dumbbell assembly according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a partly exploded view of the dumbbell assembly of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a support base and a carrying structure ofthe dumbbell assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the support base and the carryingstructure of the dumbbell assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are explanatory diagrams of the dumbbell assembly; and

FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 are cross-sectional views of the dumbbell assembly ofthe present invention shown in FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplatedmodes of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be takenin a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustratinggeneral principles of embodiments of the invention. The scope of theinvention is best defined by the appended claims.

Please refer to FIG. 1, which illustrates a perspective view of adumbbell assembly according to the present invention. The dumbbellassembly 1000 includes a dumbbell unit 2000, and a dumbbell base. Thedumbbell base includes a support base 500, and a carrying structure 600.The dumbbell unit 2000 is positioned on the support base 500. Thecarrying structure 600 is located above the support base 500 and ismovable relative thereto.

Please refer to FIG. 2, which illustrates an exploded view of thedumbbell unit 2000 according to the present invention. The dumbbell unit2000 includes a connecting rod 100, two weight choosing structures 200(only one is exploded in FIG. 2), a plurality of light weight discs 300and at least one heavy weight disc 400.

The connecting rod 100 extends along an extension direction D1. Theconnecting rod 100 includes a handgrip portion 110 and two mountingportions 120 at two both ends of the handgrip portion 110. The handgripportion 110 is to be held by user. The weight choosing structure 200 isassembled to each of the mounting portions 120. The light weight discs300 can be selectively assembled with the weight choosing structure 200.The mounting portion 120 is a polygon in cross-section, and penetratesthrough the weight choosing structure 200.

Each weight choosing structure 200 includes a plurality of fixingelements 210, two latching elements 220, a choosing base 230, and achoosing element 240.

The fixing elements 210 extend parallel to one another along thedirection perpendicular the extension direction D1. The mounting portion120 of the connecting rod 100 penetrates through the fixing elements210. The fixing elements 210 have a plurality of guiding holes 211 alongthe extension direction D1.

Each latching element 220 is slidable through the guiding holes 211along the extension direction D1. Each latching element 220 has aconstraining portion 221 and a latching connecting element 222. Theconstraining portion 221 extends perpendicularly from the latchingconnecting element 222. The latching connecting element 222 isextendable along an assembly direction D2.

The choosing base 230 is assembled to the fixing elements 210 and usedfor engaging the fixing elements 210. The choosing base 230 has twochoosing holes 231 which extend along the extension direction D1. Thechoosing hole 231 penetrates through the choosing base 230 alongassembly direction D2.

The choosing element 240 is located above the choosing base 230 and thelatching element 220 extends through the choosing hole 231 to engagewith the choosing element 240 such that the choosing element 240 and thelatching element 220 are slidable simultaneously along the extensiondirection D1.

The light weight disc 300 is made from iron, lead, or other metals. Thelight weight discs 300 are parallel to one another along the directionperpendicular to the extension direction D1. Each of the light weightdiscs 300 is formed with a plugging groove 310 long a splittingdirection D3. The splitting direction D3 extends in a direction oppositeto the assembly direction D2.

The plugging groove 310 has a first side 311 and a second side 312extending along the assembly direction D2. The first side 311 is formedwith blocking groove 320 while the second side 312 is formed with anopening groove 330. When the light weight disc 300 is assembled to thefixing element 210 along the assembly direction D2, the fixing element210 is plug into the plugging groove 310 in the light weight disc 300,where the constraining portions 221 are received in the blocking groove320 and the opening groove 330 in the light weight disc 300.

When the constraining portion 221 is received in the blocking groove320, the light weight disc 300 is fixed on the weight choosing structure200. In case the constraining portion 221 is received in the openinggroove 330 and disengaging from the blocking groove 320, the lightweight disc 300 can be assembled to the weight choosing structure 200along the assembly direction D2 or detached from the weight choosingstructure 200 along the splitting direction D3.

The design of the heavy weight disc 400 can be the same as the lightweight disc 300. The only difference resides in that the second blockinggroove 420 is located on the second side 412 of the plugging groove 410while the second opening groove 430 is located on the first side 411 ofthe plugging groove 410. The thickness of the heavy weight disc 400along extension direction D1 and is greater than that of the lightweight disc 300. The space between adjacent two the light weight discs300 is intended to receive additional weight disc. Therefore, the heavyweight disc 400 is heavier than each of the light weight discs 300.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are exploded views of the support base and the carryingstructure according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is across-sectional view of the support base and the carrying structureaccording to the present invention. The support base 500 has a loadingside 510 and a bottom surface 520. The loading side 510 has two throughholes 511, and a plurality of receiving grooves 530 outboard to therespective through hole 511. The receiving grooves 530 are used toreceive the light weight discs 300 and the heavy weight disc 400. Thebottom surface 520 of the support base 500 is formed with a cavity 521having an innermost wall 5211. The cavity 521 and the through holes 511are in spatial communication with each other.

The carrying structure 600 includes two connecting elements 610, tworetaining elements 620, and a carrying element 630. Each connectingelement 610 is connected to the retaining element 620 and the carryingelement 630. The connecting elements 610 are movable slidably in thethrough hole 511 along the assembly direction D2.

The retaining element 620 extends from two oppose sides of theconnecting element 610 and are received in the cavity 521. When thecarrying element 630 is raised relative to the support base, theretaining elements 620 abut against the innermost wall 5211 of thecavity 521, thereby preventing disengagement of the carrying structure600 from the support base 500.

The carrying element 630 has two ends connected respectively to theconnecting elements 610. Thus, the carrying element 630 is disposedmovably above the loading side 510. The carrying element 630 is liftedfrom the support base 500 so as to be coupled with the handgrip portion110. The carrying element 630 has an attachment surface complementingwith the shape of the handgrip portion 110. In this embodiment, theattachment surface 631 is concaved to conform to a lower side of thehandgrip portion 110.

As to how to use the dumbbell assembly 1000 of the present invention isdescribed in detailed in the following paragraphs. Please refer to FIG.5, the carrying structure 600 is disposed in a lower position M1, i.e.the carrying element 630 is not picked up by the exerciser. There is afirst separation space S1 between the handgrip portion 110 and thecarrying element 630. There is a second separation space S2 between theloading side 510 of the support base 500 and the carrying element 630.Therefore, the exerciser's hand can be inserted into the firstseparation space S1 to hold the handgrip portion 110 to pick up thedumbbell unit 2000. The light weight disc 300 or the heavy weight disc400 not assembled to the weight choosing structure 200 will be left onthe support base 500.

Please refer to FIG. 6, in case the exerciser wishes to pick up thewhole dumbbell assembly 1000. The exerciser can insert his hand into thesecond separation space S2 and lift the carrying element 630 up, andthen the carrying element 630 is located in a rise position M2 and isattached to the handgrip portion 110. Finally both of the dumbbell unit2000 and the support base 500 can be picked up together. That is, theretaining elements 620 abut against the innermost wall 5211 of thecavity 521 (please refer to FIG. 4) due to upward lifting such that whenthe dumbbell unit 2000 and the support base 500 will be picked uptogether. In this case, the relation position among the weight choosingstructure 200, the light weight discs 300, the heavy weight disc 400 andthe support base 500 is fixed. Therefore, no matter whether the weightdisc 300 or heavy weight disc 400 are assembled or not, they can befixed in receiving grooves 530 of the support base 500 via tightclamping action between the connecting rod 100 and the support base 500,thereby permitting the exerciser to pick up the whole dumbbell assembly1000.

In conclusion, according to the present invention, the light weight disc300 or the heavy weight disc 400 will not fall down when an exerciserpicks up the whole dumbbell assembly 1000. Furthermore, the exercisercan pick up the whole dumbbell assembly 1000 by one hand, therebyshifting the dumbbell assembly 1000 in ease and conveniently.

In the other embodiment, the dumbbell unit 2000 of the present inventioncan be replaced by a conventional integrally formed dumbbell (not shown)for seating on the support base 500, after which, the carrying structure600 is raised to attach with the handgrip portion of the conventionalintegrally formed dumbbell, thereby permitting shifting from one placeto the other.

Please refer to FIG. 5, in case an exerciser wants to use the dumbbellunit 2000 for fitness, he can adjust the choosing element 240 to set theweight of the dumbbell unit 2000. In this embodiment, the choosingelement 240 a is located in a first position P1, the choosing element240 b is located in a second position P2, the choosing element 240 c islocated in a third position P3, and the choosing element 240 d islocated in a fourth position P4. Afterward, he can insert his hands intothe first separation space S1 and grips the handgrip portion 110 and thecarrying element 630 simultaneously to pick the dumbbell unit 2000 up.

In actual situation, the first position P1 shall be correspond to thefourth position P4, the second position P2 shall be correspond to thethird position P3. Therefore, the weight at two ends of the dumbbell2000 will be balance. The positions of this embodiment are just forexplaining the present invention.

Please refer to FIGS. 7 and 8, and also to FIG. 2 as a reference. FIG. 7and FIG. 8 are cross-sectional views illustrating how the dumbbell unit2000 is picked up by the exerciser. In the FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, the lightweight discs 300 a, 300 f and the heavy weight disc 400 a are notassembled to the weight choosing structure 200 and are therefore left onthe loading side 510 of the support base 500. The constraining portion221 a is within the blocking groove 320 of the weight discs 300 b, 300c, so that the weight discs 300 b, 300 c are fixed on the weightchoosing structure 200. The constraining portion 221 b is within theopening groove 330 of the light weight discs 300 a, 300 b, 300 c, sothat the light weight disc 300 a, 300 b, 300 c can not be fixed on theweight choosing structure 200. Additionally, the constraining portion221 a is not received in the blocking groove 320 of the light weightdisc 300 a so that the weight disc 300 a is left on the support base500.

Otherwise, the heavy weight disc 400 a is left on the support base 500,because the constraining portion 221 a is within the second openinggroove 330, but the constraining portion 221 b is not within the secondblocking groove 320 of the heavy weight disc 400 a.

The constraining portion 221 d is within the blocking groove 320 of thelight weight discs 300 e, 300 d, and no matter whether the constrainingportion 221 c is within the opening groove 330 of the weight discs 300e, 300 d or not, the light weight discs 300 e, 300 d are assembled tothe weight choosing structure 200.

In the same way, in case the constraining portion 221 d is not withinthe blocking groove 320 of the light weight disc 300 f and no matterwhether the constraining portion 221 c is within the opening groove 330of the weight discs 300 f or not, the light weight disc 300 f is left onthe support base 500.

Otherwise, the constraining portion 221 d is within the second openinggroove 330 of the heavy weight disc 400, and the constraining portion221 c is within the second blocking groove 320 of the heavy weight disc400 b so that the heavy weight disc 400 b is assembled to the weightchoosing structure 200.

In conclusion, the numbers of the weight disc 300 and the heavy weightdisc 400 assembled to the weight choosing structure 200 can beoptionally chosen by adjusting the choosing element 240 of the presentinvention.

In addition, the thickness h1 of the heavy weight disc 400 can beshorter than the total thickness h2 of the three light weight discs 300,but the heavy weight disc 400 is heavier in weight than the light weightdiscs 300 combined together, since the light weight discs 300 incombination have recess space more than the disc 400 (see FIG. 8).Thereby, the weight rang of the dumbbell 2000 is enlarger than onedumbbell assembled with all the light weight discs without the heavyweight disc.

While the invention has been described with reference to the preferredembodiments, the description is not intended to be construed in alimiting sense. It is therefore contemplated that the appended claimswill cover any such modifications or embodiments as may fall within thescope of the invention defined by the following claims and theirequivalents.

1. A dumbbell assembly comprising: a dumbbell unit including aconnecting rod having a handgrip portion and two mounting portions atboth ends of the handgrip portion, a weight choosing structure assembledto each of the mounting portions, and a plurality of weight discsselectively assembled with the weight choosing structure; a support basehaving a loading side to permit seating of the weight discs thereon; anda carrying structure including a retaining element abutting against thesupport base to prevent disengagement of the carrying structure from thesupport base, a carrying element located above the loading side of thesupport base and movable relative thereto, and a connecting elementconnected to the retaining element and the carrying element; wherein,the carrying element is raised relative to the support base to fastenthe handgrip portion.
 2. The dumbbell assembly as claimed in claim 1,wherein the cross-sectional surface of the mounting portion is a polygonin shape, the mounting portion penetrating through the weight choosingstructure.
 3. The dumbbell assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein theweight choosing structure includes a plurality of fixing elementsparallel to one another, the mounting portion penetrating through thefixing elements respectively along the extension direction.
 4. Thedumbbell assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the weight choosingstructure includes a plurality of latching elements disposed in thefixing elements respectively.
 5. The dumbbell assembly as claimed inclaim 4, wherein each of the latching elements includes a latchingconnecting element extending along an assembly direction and aconstraining portion extending perpendicularly from the latchingconnecting element.
 6. The dumbbell assembly as claimed in claim 5,wherein each of the weight discs has a plugging groove to permit plug inof a respective one of the fixing elements therein.
 7. The dumbbellassembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein the plugging groove in each ofthe weight discs has a first side extending along the assembly directionand formed with a blocking groove for receiving the constraining portionwhen the weight disc is fixed to the weight choosing structure.
 8. Thedumbbell assembly as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a heavyweight disc corresponding to the second side having a second blockinggroove.
 9. The dumbbell assembly as claimed in claim 1, furthercomprising a heavy weight disc having a thickness greater than that ofthe light weight disc.
 10. A dumbbell base for positioning a dumbbellhaving a handgrip portion and a plurality of weight disc, the dumbbellbase comprising: a support base having a loading side to permit seatingof for the weight disc positioning thereon; and a carrying structureincluding a retaining element for preventing disengagement of thecarrying structure from the support base, a carrying element movablewith respect to the support base and located above the loading side ofthe support base, and a connecting element connected to the retainingelement and the carrying element; wherein the carrying element is raisedto fasten with the handgrip portion.
 11. The dumbbell base as claimed inclaim 10, wherein the retaining element extends from the connectingelement.
 12. The dumbbell base as claimed in claim 10, wherein thecarrying element has an attachment surface complementing with thehandgrip portion.
 13. The dumbbell base as claimed in claim 10, whereinthe support base has a bottom surface formed with a cavity, theretaining element being received in the cavity.
 14. The dumbbell base asclaimed in claim 13, wherein the loading side of the support base has athrough hole communicating with the cavity, the connecting element beingmoveably disposed in the through hole.